Connecting companion pieces of luggage



April 1945- H. B. NELSON 2,372,845

CONNECTING COMPANION PIECES OF LUGGAGE Filed Nov. 18, 1945 INVENTOR HARRY B.NELSON //L/ L B ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 3, 194

CONNECTING COMPANION PIECES OF LUGGAGE Harry B. Nelson, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Prime Mfg. 00., Milwaukee, Wis.

Application November'18, 1943, Serial No. 510,739

2 Claims.

This invention appertains to luggageand more particularly to novel means for facilitating the transporting of suitcases and the like by a traveler from one point to another, such as along a railroad terminal platform.

Womens luggage usually consists of two companion pieces; namely, a suitcase and a smaller fitted case. Difliculty is encountered in handling the two pieces of luggage particularly along station platforms and where the weight thereof has to be borne by the traveler, a physical hardship is encountered.

It is therefore, one of the primary objects of my invention to provide means whereby the two pieces of luggage can be quickly connected together so that the same can be handled as a single unit and whereby the unit can be conveniently slid or rolled along a platform by the side of a traveler without necessitating the traveler carrying the load or stooping over to reach the handle of the upper-most case.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide means whereby the small fitted case can be detachably connected to the upper face of the larger suitcase, so that the handle of the smaller fitted case will be in convenient reach of the 55 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows. 7

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letters S and F indicate a pair of companion pieces of luggage. As heretofore stated, womens luggage usually consists of a suitcase and a small fitted case. In the drawing S indicates the suitcase and F the small fitted case.

The suitcase S can be of any preferred character found in the open market and hence include a top wall l0, having the usual carrying handle H.

In accordance with my invention, the lower wall of the suitcase S is provided with casters I2 traveler without stooping over when the larger case is resting on the ground, whereby to permit the two connected pieces to be expeditiously slid or rolled over the ground by ball casters or the like on the lower wall of the suitcase.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view showing the two cases detachably connected together and in position to be conveniently slid along a station platform by a traveler.

Figure 2 is an enlarged, end, elevational view of the two companion pieces of luggage detachably connected together and ready to be slid along the platform by the traveler, parts of the view being shown broken away and in section.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, top, plan view of the suitcase forming one of the companion pieces of luggage.

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detail, transverse, sectional view illustrating one means for detachably connecting the two pieces of luggage together.

Figure 5 is a detail, sectional view taken at right angles to Figure 4 and substantially on the line of the ball bearing type, whereby the suitcase can be easily rolled along a station platform or the like. Also in accordance with my invention I securely fasten to the upper wall IU of the suitcase, pairs of spaced bracket l3, which are in the nature of sockets and these sockets areprovided with keyhole slots M for a purpose, which will be later set forth. It is to be noted, however, that the brackets or sockets are arranged on opposite sides of the handle II.

The fitted bag or case F is also of a type found in the open market and hence the same includes a top wall l5 provided with a carrying handle Hi. In accordance with my invention the bottom wall ll of the fitted case F is provided at spaced points with pairs of headed studs l8. These studs l8 are arranged at the corners of the bottom wall so that the same will form feet or strengthening members for engaging a surface when the fitted case F is laid down.

The headed studs 18 and the brackets or sockets l3 are so'arranged relative to one another and are so projected that the fitted case F can [he placed on the top wall In of the suitcase with the headed studs in alignment with the brackets or sockets. By this arrangement the headed studs can be placed in the keyhole slots 14 of the brackets or sockets l3 and when the fitted case F is slid forwardly the two cases S and F will be detachably connected together. Upon continued forward movement of the case F, the two cases can be slid along a surface as a single unit. The connection is also such that by lifting up on the handles 16 of case F, both of the cases S and F can be raised over an obstruction.

In use of my invention, the two cases are convenient reach of the hand of a traveler "with Obviously, the two cases can be connected or disconnected in a moment's notice without the operation of any moving parts which might be difiicult to operate by a woman.

Changes in details may be made withoutvdeeparting from the spirit or the scope of my invention, but what I claim as new'is:

1. In luggage equipment, a relatively large piece of luggage having a bottom wall provided with anti-friction ground engagingmembers, a smaller piece of luggage having a carrying handle on its top wall and adapted to be fitted on the top wall of the large piece of luggage, and' inter-fittingmembers carried respectively by thet'op wa'lhof the large piece of luggage'and the bottom-wall of the smaller piece of luggage, whereby the two pieces of luggage can be detachably connected together and whereby the two pieces of luggage can he slid over a surface by grasping the handle of the smaller piece of luggage.

2. In baggage equipment, a large piece of luggage having bottom and top walls, a hinged handle carried by the top, wall; antlfri'otion ground engaging members carried by the bottom wall, asmaller piece of luggage adapted to be placed on the top wall of the large piece of luggage and includingj'topand bottom walls, a carrying handle on the top wall of the small piece of luggage, and interengaging means carried respectively by the'top.-wallofthe large piece of luggage and the bottom wall of the small piece of luggage, whereby the two pieces'can be connected together as a single unit from the handle of the small piece of luggage, said interengaging members when connected: together being: equal to: the thickness of the handle; of. the large: piece of: luggage: so. that; when; said. handle is' swung down: the same will notinterfere with the connection of: the two pieces of luggage together.

HARRY B. NELSON 

